Fruit-box



V. WHEAT.

FRUIT B0X.

No. 404,880. Patented June 11,1889.

fw wwmk WMI/.W JMW@ EL fFM//y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

l VANBUREN VHEAT, OF ORLEANS, NEWT YORK.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,880, dated June 11, 1889.

Application filed April 13, 1889. Serial No. 307,108. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.- A

Be it known that I, VANBUREN WHEAT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orleans, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to boxes intended for gift-boxes, or such as are usually sold filled with grapes or other fruit, and are of a size convenient for carrying in the hand.

The advantages secured by this invention are that it provides a separable and adjustable cover and carrying-handles for locking the same in position on the box, and also permits the packing of the fruit through the open bottom of the box and the compact crating together of several boxes for shipment.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, in which- Figure l is al perspective view of the invention, the dotted lines showing the handles in position for crating. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top of the box with the handles turned over the ends of the box and the cover partly removed. Fig. is a plan view of the under side of the box with the bottom removed, and Fig. 4 is a vertical edge View of an end piece of the box.

The various parts of the invention are referred to by letters, similar letters denoting corresponding parts in the different views.

The letters A A indicate the sides of the box, which are preferably made thin and light. B B are the end pieces of the box, and are sufficiently thick and heavy to hold small nails driven into them through the sides and bottom of the box. C is the bottom, and D is the sliding top or cover of the box. All these pieces are made plane except the ends B B,

which have the grooves Z9 b on their inner sides near the top, in which the ends of the cover D may slide. l

In joining the box the ends B B project above the sides A A, bringing the lower side of the grooves h Z) in line with the upper edges of the sides A A. This permits the cover D to slide laterally either way. The sides A A of the box extend below the ends B B to a distance equal to the thickness of the bottom O, so that when the bottom is fastened on it is not liable to be knocked off in handling, being protected by the sides A A, between which it is fitted, and consequently requires no fasteniugs, except at its ends to the pieces B B.

The handles E E are made of wire bent to form three sides of a q'uadrilateral slightly larger than the end of the box and having their ends e e bent directly toward each other. These ends e e are passed through holes a a in opposite sides of the box and then bent upward to hold them in place. The handles E E are of such length and are attached to the box at such points that they may be folded down upon the cover D in line with or below the top of the ends B B, or be raised to form convenient means for carrying the box, in either of which two positions the handles lock the cover D on the box; or they may be turned outwardly over the ends of the box, sov as to permit the cover to be removed by sliding sidewise in either'direction. This box is preferably made-of wood, and is so constructed that it can be made of cheap materials and at a triiing cost; but if carefully made of good material it becomes a very useful household article after the fruit is removed.

To prepare the box for use, all its parts are properly put together, except the bottom piece. Then it is turned over and the fruit islaid in evenly through the open bottom upon the cover and the box filled up. The bottom is then fastened on with brads or small nails. On turning the box right side up, and especially after carrying or shipping, the fruit settles down somewhat from the cover, which, on being removed, exposes the fruit in an even and attractive layer.

Having now described my invention,'what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. A box having its ends grooved at their upper inward edges, which project above the sides of the box, a cover to slide in said grooves, and handles secured to the sides of the-box adapted to be turned over the ends of IOO the box to release the Cover, to be folded downF upon the boxweover, and to be raised and used 'lorearrying, and thus also looking the box, as herein set forth.

A box having its sides extended below its end pieces, a bottom litted in between said sides and attached to the end pieces of the box, the said end pieces having grooves on the inner sides of their upper edges which extend above the sides of the box,a eover adapted to slide in said grooves, and handles so seeured to the sides o'l the box that they maybe turned outwardly to release the eover, uynvardly to serve as handles, and that may be folded. down upon the box-oever, substantially as and for I 5 the purposes herein set forth In testimony whereof I affix `my signature in prese/nee of two witnesses.

` VANBUREN lVIllA'I. lV itnesses:

JOSEPH BLYTHE, L. R. LOMBARD. 

